Winter Sunlight

One of the joys of the Ardnamurchan countryside during winter is the variety in the sunlight, and the effect it has on the scenery. This January scene shows the eastern end of Ormsaigbeg, with the copper of the bracken on the lower slopes of Druim na Gearr Leacainn glowing in the early morning sunlight, the reed beds paler in the foreground.

The light is quite different in this picture taken a few days ago shortly after midday looking from the hills above Portuairk across Sanna Bay to Sanna, with the hills of Moidart in the distance. Despite the time of day, the light seems thinner, more translucent.

This was taken during the heavy snow and cold weather of late November, early December, with one of the two 6,000-year old burial chambers of Greadal Fhinn, Ormsaigmore, in the foreground, and Ben Hiant behind. Again, this was taken about midday, with the sun low in the south throwing long shadows.

A scattering of sheep is picked out against the grass and heather of Kilmory on Ardnamurchan's north shore. In the distance, some fifty kilometres away, stand Skye's snow-covered Black Cuillins . This air is like crystal, utterly transparent, breathless. Minutes before we had stood and watched a juvenile sea eagle wheel above the township.

Not a breath of wind stirs the waters of Kilchoan Bay as a lobster fisherman brings in his catch on Christmas Eve. It's mid-afternoon but the sun is already setting, the tide low, the kelp dark against the snow. In the distance, beyond the entrance of Loch Sunart, the last rays touch the tops of the snow-covered mountains of Morvern.

Yet there is the misconception that this Scottish west coast is grey and bleak through the winter.